Now, some “Funky Christmas.” Keenan Back (feat. Samirah Tariq, Liam Back, Bennykaay, Merlin Schneider & Martin Rudkowski) mashes up R+B with disco to declaim: So grab your loved ones, Leave behind your 9 to 5, Enjoy your life–’cause baby; It is christmas time.
On this Christmas We aim at the sky, The dreams we could attain; And I rocked a 9 to 5–The food it couldn’t wait! Bukas Sīgurø wades into the pop slugger “Wonderful Night” with verve. Not sure what it all means, but this Canadian adopted Haitian parties.
Vilardz raps ironic apologies for all the swag he bestows at Xmas. Santa working 9-5 that’s one hell of a shift. “Christmas Hype” begins with a ‘Bells’ beat, but it grows up.
The Tractors have been themselves workin’ nine to five, but Told my boss he could stick it so they could be “Swingin’ Home for Christmas.” It is swing. Get some.
Why watch the clock around the holidays? Ask The Federales. They’ll tell “Santa Don’t Stop at the Bar Christmas Eve.” …before you know it you’re waking up in the parking lot at 9am on Christmas morning with the sleigh’s radio on pretty loud… Rockabilly with a little lounge and excellent steel guitar whining.
Deathsex Bloodbath’s “One Christmas Night” is a one-night stand. In the aftermath, all the Xmassy imagery is now naughty. But it’s 9 A.M. and mum expects you… childish garage nudge-nudge.
Nostalgia’s a time-keeper. “Christmas was Better a Decade Ago” is the ponderous pop plodding we get from MAIC: 9 am I open my eyes I see that it is snowing outside; I walk downstairs, I get dressed up, and then i stick my tongue out to the sky–Do u realize it′s all in the past?
Set on an Xmas Eve at 9 when the power cuts out and Dad scrambles to save the night so he sings “Have You Seen My Love?” Drew Dillon pours his heart into this gentle pop showtune.
Will Santa come tonight? I’ll wait all night from nine, belabors Laura Fireball in the laid back pop tune “However Many Christmases.” The accent that makes most of the words sound like over words is autotune.
“Snowfall” by William Hutt is an alt-folk portrait of love and wondering. The city after nine is the best time to observe this.
Wanting December to last forever, Jessey Wyzgowski sashays vocals around some pop folk guitar in “Divine Christmas.” Some fun! Go outside in the snow…Or we’ll stay inside by candlelight Drinking eggnog ’til it’s half past nine.
“Santa Don’t Forget the Whiskey” is the bluesy rap from The Southern Rap Commission. Especially since Liquor stores shut down at nine o’clock tonight. Fun.
But, now: It’s after 9, on the night of Christmas Eve–so it’s time for “Groovy Christmas.” Andrew Cassara mashes up R+B and lame pop. Tweaks more than grooves.
Sleighbells ringing, carol singing, pop a cork of red after 9, ooh, ooh ooh ohh, ooh ooh, maunders Bubblez in the unplugged, overwritten charmer “Bring Out the Wine.” The poetry’s got game, even if the same two chords over and over don’t.
Christmas morning? Don’t oversleep! Get up, get up (it’s twenty-five to nine) Come and see the big surprise, chortle Carlos Fandango Music in “Feel the Magic.” Throat closing Brit-pop.
“Christmas Round at Our House” is full of numbers: midnight, quarter past three… and–Uncle Joe’s been on the lager; He’s been at it since half past nine And now he’s getting flirty with Barbara–She’s the girl who lives at number five. This rocking mess of dysfunctional family and great expectations is more soothing than you might think. John C Evans is a sympathetic songster.
10 pounds of shit in a three pound bag is a gift possibility for F.B.A. with time running out. BLUE ALERT “All I Got You for Christmas Were These Riffs” is the actual gift. As well as a buttload of complaining, in heavy rock.
Heavy blues from Honey Davis, who is ambivalent about going home for the holidays. I had to stop at the station Put a couple dollars on number ten… but she imagines a head on collision might be better than seeing her babies again. Man, that’s a “Blue Christmas.”
Also losing the thrill, Fruitcakes old through their “10th Christmas Together.” Regretful celebrations. Drunken piano bar caterwauling.
A measure of Christmas Eve’s approach, by Boyzone, is Streets are finally emptying, Ten shutters coming down…. “The Hour Before Christmas” is a self-important piece of dense pop. But it’s sooo pretty.
“Obodo Oyibo Christmas” is a planned African trip to visit family overseas with 10 bags each. Eko the Beat keeps the beat magnificently.
Jake Paul, the self-made celebrity, taunts: We the Team 10 elves, who the hell are frickin’ you? in “It’s Christmas Day Bro.” Rap that tries too hard.
Starshine Singers kidsong in harmony “Shopping Bags.” They got lots! Including 10 CDs.
Jonathan Coulton and Jonathan Reddick have a plan: Look, I couldn’t find a single Teddy Ruxpin anywhere, but they’ll still be just as popular next year And when I find a stash, I’ll buy ten. They’re taking “One Christmas at a Time.” Pop whooping.
The kids want stuff [Bobby wants a ten-speed English racer], But Alan Jackson only wants you to “Just Put a Ribbon in Your Hair” so you’ll be his present. Slow country love song.
In a “California Christmas” The Boxmasters may hang ten. Lotsa word play with this slow rock. Roll with it. [See also “Hang Ten Santa” from Eric Stone for real surf rock.]
Since we count by 10s, we measure by factors of 10.
The Killers return with their mod beat poetry in “A Great Big Sled.” Apart from loving this time of year, they remark: This snowman is shaping up to be an eight but not out of ten–possibly a shape referent. Alt-tacular.
Coy and Ashley try out their “Christmas Diss” with slurs like: Girlies all in her head thinking she’s 10 out of 10, but you built like the grinches. Take that! the ‘Jingle Bells’ karaoke and auto-tuning don’t help.
The highly entertaining Fralphie Jenkins whispers his altrock about spinning out on “Black Ice” and almost missing Christmas. But, This whole song was sponsored By On-Star: On-Star provides you With confidence; Right now it′s 10% off If you′re on the fence–Use the promo code ‘Fralphie J′… It’s the #1 thing this year In Santa′s Sleigh! What a twist ending! Ha!
Frankie and the Lake County Collective ask to “Let Me Hear Some Christmas Music” and to Turn the volume up to 10. Their bouncy pop country growls my kinda thinking, even if i can’t sing along to it.
Ludacris invokes ‘Fred Claus’ when he raps “Ludacrismas.” On his list are two gold front teeth And ten carat diamonds on a fat gold wreath. Acquire it.
Minhee Jones figures “Next Xmas” in case you’re keeping score will be Ten times better than the one before. R+B with a childish lilt. Fun.
David J Caron celebrates a Brit family-friendly rocking Xmas praising the “Star Angels” and the whole Santa thing: (Warp factor 10 Mr Blitzen)! Celebratory.
Howlingly off, Starbourne declares Christmas is “X Times (Better With You).” A mind melting psychedelic love declaration. Just, wow.
New Years is the time to countdown from 10; yet it is only one of the Happy Holidays. So go.
[Some counting songs don’t go up to 12, but only up to 10. My favorite is “Children, Go Where I Send Thee” (here by the Skaggs Family)–a Bible study number that only nudges ‘gainst Xmas. For novelty sake, The Christmas Pranksters ‘poon this with “Children, Go There and Spend Thee.” I’m counting it.]
Jenx wants (for New Year’s Eve) to Countdown from 10 and now we’re here, Hoping to go back in time, to relive this 25th one last time. “Everything You Need for Christmas” is a party pop anthem with cutesy slurring for to be alluring. Brassy.
Anika Dzulkiflee celebrates coming through a tough Christmas with “This Moment” where, with poorly recording timpanic pop, she begins the countdown to the First.
Christmas, yea, but New Years is almost here chimes Elle Hills: 10, 9, 8… belying her “Christmas is Here” pop theme. There is no now, only new.
Counting down like New Years 10 to zero, soft raps Goodxj in a positively loving ode to Xmas. “This Christmas” is a happy place.
Counting up is cool, as well. Count to ten, and close your eyes; You’ll see, it’s Christmas time, ends Sarah Reynolds with a plaintive showtune “Christmas Time is Here.” Simple stuff, but evangelical.
Getting around to actual Xmas: John Legend swings, I count one, two, three four, up to ten From the beginning until the end, Celebrating merry, merry Christmas time with you. This jazzy soul number can count to a million s’far as i’m concerned. “Merry Merry Christmas.” Man.
Ethereal plucking and falsetto pitch us toward the 25th: Open the windows and count to 10 (then something about lords leaping–why?!). This clockwork wonder, “Yule Nog Waltz,” is short but so very worth it.
Thomas Rhett may love “Christmas in the Country,” but he overdoes all the decorative trends like any suburbanite: You could be ten miles away And see my house from the road. More pop than country, despite the banjo.
Jim White was crying in a Greyhound Station on “Christmas Day” in 1998. Why? P.A. said the bus broke down 10 miles from the station. This alt-folk mini-masterpiece of the hope for love puts us in the scene, bittersweet though it be.
St. Lucifer the Outcast haughtily raps: Hop in my sleigh let’s ride (uh yea) Crusing thru I-10 and 35 (uh yea) Hitting 88 travel thru time (uh yea) And you know you my ride or die (uh yea). BLUE ALERT, natch, but “Nighty Night” comes off kinda sweet for the holidays. Sweet dreams.
Jesse Malin made his baby cry in “Xmas.” This soaring garage ballad begins with 10$ in his pocket and no prospects (even tried to make it clean). Sad but worth it.
Miss Lou loves “Christmas in My City.” Not that she doesn’t have something to comment about there in Singapore. Warm and wet as it might be, It’s not a winter wonderland; But we can play pretend: Walk into a mall and it’ll be 10 degrees. Jazzily matter-of-fact.
A minute left of Christmas Eve, Hypnotic snow now falls, Wandering home erratically, Feeling ten feet tall, The Free Cities leads us to love on “Christmas Day.” Pop rocking the hand holding and the kiss at midnight Eve. Shucks.
Wanting, too, to feel ten feet tall, Chris Pope with The Chords UK hair rock “Come on It’s Christmas Day” like it’s the anthem we need right now.
Bluegrassy country from Florida Georgia Line begins with: Daddy won’t stop bragging ’bout How we cut us down a big one Perfect size, ten foot high. But that Christmas tree ain’t the only thing gettin “Lit This Year.” Pass the ‘shine.
The tree’s gotta be ten feet high when it’s “Christmas Time on a Pirates Ship (A Christmas Shanty).” This Cookies and Cream Entertainment with Derek and Andrew devolves pretty rapidly, but it’s short so–gargle ye grog and go.
Dan Drnach swings the pop music as a “Hometown Santa.” The tree outside the bank must be 10 feet or more there on Main Street. It’s home. Probably don’t even argue about politics.
Kim Mitzo Thompson with Hal Wright kidsong the kidprayer: “I Hope It Snows On Christmas Day.” Guess how deep they hope it’ll get. Go on, guess!
Los Doggies doesn’t want you to be “Mad for Christmas.” And that’s despite, you know, TV squawker, 10 feet of snow, corn not popped, and all that bad stuff. I mean, love. Squirrely pop.
10 foot tall tree, 10 foot deep snow… what else? Make Like Monkeys hauntingly chant the latest cool idea, “Santa Should Ride a Yeti.” Guess how tall! Pop for kids.
Unwritten Law (feat. Sum 41) begin gently: Remember when I was 10, Looking forward to Christmas again… Then they rock. “Unwritten Christmas” ends rappily in the today when they observe the seasonal distribution of their albums to other kids.
R+B is not a sanctuary usually for the childhood memory, but Nobody thinks my life is hard because I’m nine years old, But soon I’ll be ten and practically grown up–Is it a crime to cherish this happy time? Chris Nicolosi struggles through a tough winter, but he’s got that snowman on “Snowman’s Day.” That’s an imaginary friend you can dress up!
TobyMac (feat. Leigh Nash) projects the age: It’s like I’m ten years old again And everywhere I go I can feel it. Party pop presents “Christmas This Year,” a lesson in appreciating God.
Also nostalgic for innocence, Corban Phillips returns to his best of Christmas past in “10 Year Old Me.” I don’t want to forget what it felt like back when I was 10 So bring all your holiday cheer, let’s do it again. Soft alt-rock for the whole family.
Richard Marx plays the maudlin card with: I still remember when you were maybe 9 or 10 Afraid of shadows on your wall; I would hold you tight. “Christmas Mornings” puts the age on the object not the subject, making me wonder how tragic the parenting got.
When hard pop begins: Back when we were ten, we were the best of friends. But who knew back then, that this love would never end? i’m not guessing Xmas. But “Christmas Past Present & Future” synth-rocks the hard sell on romance during the holidays. Submit.
Working through a breakup,Melanie Jay alt-pops her anger: Sorry to all the ten year olds who have to hear, But i’ve known since I was like 3… (…something something about Santa, can’t get into her lyric spoilers right now). Regardless, “Naughty or Nice” is a sweet walk down betrayal lane.
10 years old is old enough to prophecy, monitor, and evaluate the whole Christmas scene. Matt Roach’s protagonist wants to cut the crap and bring on the “Toys for Boys.” Like rock now.
Best at recapturing the good old days is James Hersch, banging the folk/rock passionately in “Day After Christmas Day.” Ten year old boy Floating his new toy On the pond at the park–Let the good times start. It ain’t all joy, but it does bring some.
“Pandemichristmas” ages a society: Stuff my stocking with hand sanitizer; I feel like I’m ten years older and wiser. Sauce on the Side raps this with mask in cheek.
Feeling like seven was great around Xmas for Locals. Ten years later, looking under the tree The same rush flows from head to my feet, I run down and grab the biggest gift I see. “Christmas Time Feels Right” is echoic pop that celebrates moderately.
Missing the vanishing traditions [haven’t had a white Christmas in like ten years], Fifth Lucky Dragons begin a new tradition–VHS!! “Nostalgic at Christmas” has spot on electronic pop silliness.
Swerving into tragedy, Brenn Hill puns ‘Fine and dandy, Lord, it’s a “Hard Cancer Christmas.” Plodding country that worries, then returns to that stricken kid 10 years later to see survival and a little hair. For Christmas Eve. Yeesh.
Sorry, a slight detour now… “Barry Manilow Got Stuck in Sausage Fibers” by ColdmaN5 is an experimental number about the pop icon about to sing a Christmas song but webbed and scared, then reliving his PTSD ten years later. Thought you should know.
And while we’re weirding–from the musical from the movie ‘Catch Me If You Can,’ “Christmas is My Favorite Time of Year” pits Frank Jr. against Hannity in a duet, where the investigator hopes to see the conman again–when he’s serving eight to 10. Slow showtune from Norbert Leo Butz · Aaron Tveit.
Bucking the trends, January Lanterns are impatient. “I Know It’s Not christmas for Long” is a marvelous sentiment (just saying), especially when: The store shelves are empty and the discounts a many, Our toy boxes have no room, Haven’t heard carolers in ten years or twenty. Soft folk pop. Ruminative.
The Ort think every moment counts: Take my hand… 10 seconds, Just long enough To illuminate this spot. “It’s Christmas” is a Celtic rocker of sweet emotion.
Plaintive pop from Kristen Brown: “Christmas Spirit” explains, Anybody asks what I’m wishing for this year I’ll ask for ten To spend with you again. But–ten what? minutes? years? Love knows no math.
Even more breathily sentimental, Lil Cat sets the scene: fireplace on video; 10 hours should be okay. But all this mise en place is in order to enjoy your “Christmas Sweater.” Earnest fetishism.
Feisty protest folk from Elton Thomas, “It’s Christmas Time” is the sorrow of the homeless guy at the end of the line turned away–it ends tragically: Now rewind ten hours ago, and some guy (in some metaverse) trades spots with him. Problem solved.
Ten hour drive through the blazing sun, Hotter than Hades before we’ve begun–can be the downside to an Australian holiday homecoming. But Simone Craddock (feat. The Girls of Oz) make a fine point in her folky country pop “When I Get Home It’s Christmas.” Who needs a calendar?
It’s been 10 months now… is the soft folk opening to “Our First Christmas” by The Christmas Cards. A love ballad on the soporific side (with interior monologue/panic).
Sevenths makes a string-heavy pop editorial ‘giants Boris Johnson in his “Blue Christmas.” The uncertainty of 10 Downing Street in handling the pandemic cost human lives: you’ve dropped the ball for ten months Now we’re all suffering at your hands. Not strictly for the holidays, but it’s when this hits hardest.
